Abu Dhabi: Rashid emerges winner in endurance ride for juniors

Gulfnews.com - Full Story

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: March 01, 2008, 01:05

Abu Dhabi: Rashid Ahmad Al Beloushi won the Abu Dhabi Endurance International Cup for junior and young riders at the Boutheib Endurance village in Al Khatem on Friday to follow in the footsteps of elder brother Yousuf, a champion rider and trainer.

Last week, the elder brother made Al Reef Stables proud when he scored another one of his famous wins in Dubai and yesterday it was the 15-year-old Rashid tasting his second success on 13-year-old Jen A Dale Zamarah in the 100-km event.

Rashid Ahmad and Jen A Dale Zamarah completed the four-loop 100-km ride in 4 hrs 10 mins and 12 seconds nearly six minutes ahead of Hamdan Mousa Mohammad Al Hammadi and Abdullah Rashid Mohammad Saeed Al Naqbi, who took the second and third places respectively.

Rashid Ahmad's horse was trained by Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi and the youngster thanked his elder brother and others.

FEI Endurance Task Force Meets in Final Session

FEI Press News. 2/25/08

The FEI Task Force Chairmen met for four days, from 21 to 24 February, to agree on the final recommendations for the new FEI Endurance Rules for 2009 and onwards.

Far reaching changes are recommended by the Task Force that has consulted widely with all those involved in the discipline over the last year following their creation immediately after the FEI World Endurance Forum held in Paris, February 2007.

FEI Technical Committee members will now have an opportunity to review the Task Force proposals ahead of their annual meeting scheduled for early April in Switzerland. At this meeting the Committee will add their own comments and input to the proposed new format. The detailed proposals from the Task Force, together with the full input of the Technical Committee, will then be circulated to all FEI Federations. Full details will also be published on the FEI Web site at that time.

Feedback from National Federations will then be requested and such feedback, where appropriate, will be incorporated into the final proposed FEI Endurance Rules for 2009. This final proposal will then be circulated to all FEI NFs for last review.

Formal approval of the new rules will be carried out at the FEI General Assembly in Argentina in November and, if so approved, will come into force in January 2009.

The Task Force meeting, to which all Divisional Chairs from around the world attended, was kindly hosted and supported by the Dubai Equestrian Club. Additionally the ongoing work of the Task force over the last twelve months has been supported by The Royal Jordanian Equestrian Federation.

One of the Task Force Chairmen commented ‘This truly is the very best and most full playing field attempt to update our rules since this all started……….. I am left feeling very proud of work like this’.

The FEI would like to express it's gratitude to all of those who have contributed to the process so far and have given so much of their time and effort to this review. The review is an opportunity for those directly involved with the discipline to create a sound foundation upon which FEI Endurance can continue to grow in the years to come.

Abu Dhabi: Al Beloushi repeats endurance victory and hails 'great horse' - Feb 24 2008

Gulfnews.com - Full Story

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter

Abu Dhabi: In a rare repeat show, Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi finished ahead of Spain's Maria Alvarez Ponton in the Shaikh Maktoum Bin Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge 120-km endurance ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Dubai on Saturday.

The defending champion, who had won this ride last year on Cameo Zinniaa, decided to partner Roherty Bold Impression and the 10-year-old Anglo-Arab gelding did extremely well to overtake Maria on Antares Sauveterre on the final loop and help the Al Reef star to finish the endurance season in Dubai the way he started it - on a winning note.

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Al Beloushi renews rivaly with Maria

Gulf News article
Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi celebrates his victory in the Shaikh Maktoum Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge last year.
By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: February 23, 2008, 01:05

Abu Dhabi: Precisely a year ago, Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi on Cameo Zinniaa finished ahead of Spain's Maria Alvarez Ponton in the 120-km second Shaikh Maktoum Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge endurance ride at Dubai International Endurance City.

The two riders are back on the same horse for the third edition of this ride which gets off to a mass start at 6am this morning and will be joined by over 100 other riders.

While the two rider will be looking to again do well in the event, sponsored by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, there is also another reason the two will be hoping to better each other.

In the latest FEI World Ranking (calculated up to December 2007) Maria leads with 1,784 points followed by Frenchman Jack Begaud (1581) while Yousuf is third on 1044.

Both Yousuf and Maria also completed this event in its inaugural edition in the 2005-06 season with Yousuf finishing 10th and Maria 34th.

Other top riders in the fray include Pan Arab Games Shaikh Mayed Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The Shaikh Maktoum Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge over 120-kms will be run in five loops of 31, 32, 27, 18 and 12 kms each. An 82-km Qualifier ride with 31 riders and a 44-km Qualifier with 35 riders will also be held today at the Dubai International Endurance Village in Seih Assalam.

The total prize money on offer is Dh550,000 which will be distributed among the top 20 who finish the ride while the winner will also drive away with a Nissan Patrol Car.

The first 10 horses finishing within one hour of the first-placed horse will be eligible to enter the Best Condition Competition while Dh 50,000 will be given away as cash prizes to the public through a free raffle.

Abu Dhabi: Love blooms in the desert for Spanish duo

Gulfnews.com - Full Story

February 23 2008

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter

Abu Dhabi: Their interests are common as they are passionately involved in the sport of endurance.

Though both hail from Spain they had never met until in 2001 in Dubai and seven years later they have not only exchanged vows but progressed into world class riders.

Jaume Punti Dachs hails from Barcelona and arrived in the UAE in 1999 to train endurance horses...

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Australia: Recognition at last for rider

Mudgee Guardian - full article
FINALLY RECOGNISED: John Howe with the recognition he waited more than 17 years to receive.
By DON MAHONEY

Endurance rider John Howe was recognised for a rare achievement, some 17 years after the event, when he attended the annual general meeting of the NSW Endurance Riders Association on Saturday, February 9.

Howe was the first ever endurance rider to complete the Tom Quilty, Shahzada and the NSW State Championships on the one horse back in 1991.

In 1991, in the days before riding helmets were a compulsory part of an endurance riders’ equipment, Howe rode his 16HH American Saddle Horse ‘Beau Gallant Omen’ to complete all three rides.

"At the time Beau was a 9YO and I started with the 160 kilometres of the Tom Quilty on the June long weekend, then in August completed the 400 kilometres of the Shahzada and in October the 160 kilometres of the NSW State Championships at Mt Macquarie near Blayney," Howe said.

"I may never have attempted the feat if it hadn’t been for the late Paul Grieve, who was a great endurance rider.

"I asked if there was one thing he would like to do in his lifetime and he said he would like to complete these three events with one rider, one horse in the same year.

"Paul never got his wish so I set out to achieve it for him.

"To get over the line in all three events Beau had to pass 22 fitness tests on 22 occasions during the three rides and I’ll never forget the relief when the vets pronounced him fit after I crossed the finish line at Mt Macquarie.

"I decided to run the horse out myself for the last vet check as tired as I was and all the vets were there as well as a lot of endurance enthusiasts.

"I ran him out and then when I brought him back I felt him surge in his movement and felt confident he would make it - to this day it was my biggest thrill in the sport.

"Since 1991 only 10 people have been able to emulate the feat and at this year’s AGM at Port Stevens all 10 of us were presented with a special Big 3 award.

"Endurance riding is about completing the course safely and the horse being fit at every veterinary check point, including the final one."

Endurance riding has been at a standstill since the Equine Influenza outbreak forced the cancellation of the 2007 Shahzada last August.

The sport returns to the Mudgee district when the Mudgee Endurance Club hosts their 2008 race ride from the popular Cooyal base on May 18.

Britain: Inside Story from UK's Golden Horseshoe ride - Feb 20 2008

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Story

A reporter with Britain's BBC is to ride in a division of the Golden Horseshoe Ride, the country's most well-known and toughest endurance riding event.

Reporter Adam Henson is planning to ride in the The Exmoor Experience class, which is 80km (50 miles) over two days, 25 miles on each day...

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